Hardy Bucks - THE TV SERIES

briany · 29-10-2015 03:47PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Decent actors for the most part. Don't see a problem with that, depends on who they are now of course.

One of the best comedians in the country - not used enough in my opinion.

There's a small pool of actual decent actors in this country (there's a huge pool of medicore/shi*te ones) so it's no surprise to see the same faces again and again.

RTE don't force casting decisions on people normally - I've heard of them vetoing people but never of them insisting certain people get parts in scripted shows.

It's probably more a case of when Hardy Bucks started, its creators were basically outsiders in RTE. They were coming off the back of a hit Youtube series. Now, they're probably friends with a lot of people in RTE like John Colleary and the horse-faced one from Fair City.

But I do think that including 'name' actors, or at least recognisable people, along with the regular cast does help diminish the small feel the show had when it started and that gave the show a good bit of its charm.

alleystar · 29-10-2015 04:17PM

If advertisements are anything to go by, Brian Kennedy will be making an appearance too. I agree with the above poster, the inclusion of these celebrities and actors associated with RTÉ detract from what initially made the show great.

Fr Tod Umptious · 29-10-2015 04:29PM

alleystar wrote: »

If advertisements are anything to go by, Brian Kennedy will be making an appearance too. I agree with the above poster, the inclusion of these celebrities and actors associated with RTÉ detract from what initially made the show great.

The show was great when it was a YouTube 9 minute short.

It has been "good" on TV, especially season 2, but never been great.

So I cannot see how including cameos by well known people is going to detract from anything that we saw in Seasons 1 or 2.

alleystar · 29-10-2015 05:26PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

The show was great when it was a YouTube 9 minute short.

It has been "good" on TV, especially season 2, but never been great.

So I cannot see how including cameos by well known people is going to detract from anything that we saw in Seasons 1 or 2.

I said the celebrities detract from what "initially" made the show great, i.e. the YouTube start-up. I never referenced either of the series they made. Although in my opinion, the production, cast and general content of the TV series didn't deviate much from their original YouTube sketches, just not as many laughs. This series is different or looks to be anyway. The reasons as to why the cameo appearances detract are clearly outlined and explained in previous posts. But sure it's a matter of opinion.

briany · 29-10-2015 05:36PM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

The show was great when it was a YouTube 9 minute short.

It has been "good" on TV, especially season 2, but never been great.

So I cannot see how including cameos by well known people is going to detract from anything that we saw in Seasons 1 or 2.

I would put the second series on par with the Youtube shorts. It seems like in the first series, they hadn't quite figured out how to adapt their comedy to a half-hour format. The film suffered because they then tried to take a 30 minute form and stretch it to 90 mins and the joke wore thin before the half hour mark.

The cameos - well there's nothing wrong with cameos, exactly, but you get this sinking feeling, especially with RTE, that it's the first step of Hardy Bucks ending up as a short-lived chat show in the same vein as Podge and Rodge's Stickit Inn.

CatFromHue · 29-10-2015 06:12PM

I thought the second series was great. I'd never heard of the show until they were showing repeats one summer and I flicked on Buzz telling the camera that with the money they're getting from the internet that he was hoping to get a little train to run around the house so Toastin could make cups of tea and get them sent around the house on the train. I was pretty much hooked from there.

Salmon's stag and wedding were pretty much true to what happens in real life too.

The Christmas special was great too.

I am worried with how this series is going. The more proper actors they bring in the less it becomes a mockumentary, which is what I loved about it. When I started watching it you could pretty much imagine alot of stuff would happen in real life.

Say Your Number · 29-10-2015 07:53PM

I think some people are overrating the Youtube stuff slightly, it's good but I don't think it's any better than the second series, but I suppose there will always be an element of "their early stuff is better" and some people seem to be writing this series off after one mediocre episode, long way to go yet....

Looking forward to Salmon and his new woman, that should be worth a few laughs.

john.han · 29-10-2015 08:16PM

I wasn't implying the actors used aren't capable, it's just that often with RTE productions it feels like they decide to cast someone, then invent a character for them rather than the other way round. It also detracts from the mockumentary style the original series used so well. In particular the reboot seems more sitcom orientated (you can see every episode is going to be directed towards a set piece finale of the characters getting themselves into an almighty mess, ha ha) and that doesn't sit well with the original characters, the charm of the show was the everyday wit and familiar nature of the various people of Castletown.

hardy buck salmon · 29-10-2015 09:31PM

I thought it was a decent episode, certainly better than most people are giving it credit for. At the start of every season they always focus on introducing characters in the first episode. The viper was a bit touch and go at times.

When I saw your man from the savage eye coming in as the guard, I thought it would be good. But it just didn't come close to Kofi who was so underrated. Overall, showed good promise, we'll wait and see, but please, please don't ruin salmon.

Also people mentioning the slicker production etc. I think they butchered this in the film when they went single cam compared to the documentary that they had in the youtube season and the the second rte season. Take the US Office for example, their production values increased as they went on but they still kept the mockumentary feel, and I think the lads could do the same thing here.

AnonoBoy · 30-10-2015 12:12PM

briany wrote: »

It's probably more a case of when Hardy Bucks started, its creators were basically outsiders in RTE. They were coming off the back of a hit Youtube series. Now, they're probably friends with a lot of people in RTE like John Colleary and the horse-faced one from Fair City.

Not really sure about that to be honest. I don't think you could class John Colleary as being "in RTE". I'm not even sure what that means to be honest - he's been on shows on RTE?

The Hardy Bucks themselves wouldn't even count as being "in RTE" I wouldn't say - except for the Viper who's on Republic of Telly.

Ash.J.Williams · 30-10-2015 12:18PM

john.han wrote: »

I wasn't implying the actors used aren't capable, it's just that often with RTE productions it feels like they decide to cast someone, then invent a character for them rather than the other way round. It also detracts from the mockumentary style the original series used so well. In particular the reboot seems more sitcom orientated (you can see every episode is going to be directed towards a set piece finale of the characters getting themselves into an almighty mess, ha ha) and that doesn't sit well with the original characters, the charm of the show was the everyday wit and familiar nature of the various people of Castletown.

but the two examples you used were not accurate

briany · 31-10-2015 04:35PM

Why are people saying that the series is a reboot? Just 'cause Eddie went off to America at the end of the 2nd series doesn't really mean that he wasn't back within 3 or 4 months on account of lack of Lyons Tea or stout or something. And the other people featured, well their whole lives appear to be a reboot, stuck in Castletown.

FixdePitchmark · 02-11-2015 11:46PM

Not sure If I like this or hate it.

I guess that is part of it.

Say Your Number · 02-11-2015 11:51PM

Much better this week

Loved Buzz's rational for not paying the Jellybaby "sure you're not that popular"

FixdePitchmark · 02-11-2015 11:53PM

Think it was good.

I think - it sort takes a while to get it.

hidinginthebush · 02-11-2015 11:58PM

There's only 3 things the boo is afraid of: Ghosts, Spiders and Polish hard men.

Buzz is one of my favourite characters of all time.

Fr Tod Umptious · 02-11-2015 11:58PM

Plenty of Buzz tonight which is always good.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-11-2015 11:59PM

Much better episode tonight, it went back to the old ways.

dirkmeister · 03-11-2015 12:06AM

I don't think I enjoyed Buzz that much since the old youtube videos.

He was fair funny with The Viper's ex in the pub.

ricero · 03-11-2015 01:49AM

Buzz talking about ghosts was hilarious

CatFromHue · 03-11-2015 03:20AM

It's got bits of it but it's not the same.

I still think it's event driven as opposed to character driven.

Fr Tod Umptious · 03-11-2015 10:52AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

It's got bits of it but it's not the same.

I still think it's event driven as opposed to character driven.

Not the same as what though ?

If you are comparing it to the original YouTube clips then you are wasting your time.

The TV series has never been able to live up to that, the main reason being the duration IMO.

The TV show should be judged on its own merits.
Season 1 was poor.
The Season 1 Christmas special was good.
Season 2 picked up where the Christmas special left off and was an improvement on Season 1.

This year sems to be more like Season 2 than Season 1.

pgj2015 · 03-11-2015 11:30AM

I thought last night's episode was really bad, cringy to be honest and I am a huge hardy bucks fan, much preferred last weeks episode, salmon is not funny and shouldn't be in it, "im on the vinegar stroke" ? not funny at all, I agree with the previous posts that the fair city, love hate actors should not be involved, just goes to show how bad of actors fair city actors are, they make buzz, eddie, viper (who are not even trained actors look like oscar winners.

AnonoBoy · 03-11-2015 12:01PM

Watched about half of it last night.

Decent stuff again - they're back on form.

Ash.J.Williams · 03-11-2015 12:12PM

great series so far....ha "wtf does it look like i'm doin"

DEFTLEFTHAND · 03-11-2015 05:58PM

I think it's been pretty decent so far, it feels more natural again, there was something too 'RTE' about previous series.

Shurimgreat · 03-11-2015 06:11PM

I think people are being a bit harsh to be honest. I thought last night's episode was good, plenty of good "banter" .

The "ghosts" upstairs scene at the end was a bit predictable but still funny.

Still one of the best things RTE have broadcast in recent years along with Republic of Telly.

pgj2015 · 04-11-2015 01:13AM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

I think people are being a bit harsh to be honest. I thought last night's episode was good, plenty of good "banter" .

The "ghosts" upstairs scene at the end was a bit predictable but still funny.

Still one of the best things RTE have broadcast in recent years along with Republic of Telly.

I wouldn't be giving RTE any credit, it was far better before RTE had any input.

Say Your Number · 04-11-2015 01:21AM

So when an episode is bad it's all RTE's fault and when an episode is good it's nothing to do with RTE.

Jaysus, talk about a no-win situation.

ThisRegard · 04-11-2015 10:45AM

hidinginthebush wrote: »

There's only 3 things the boo is afraid of: Ghosts, Spiders and Polish hard men.

Buzz is one of my favourite characters of all time.

After watching last nights episode I watched the very first webseries one where Boo gets introduced, he seems to be a totally different character then.

Hardy Bucks - THE TV SERIES

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